As Shenhua's reinforcement strategy for the new season is about to take shape, FIFA's sudden ban could turn the whole plan upside down. Since the team assembled at the Kangqiao base in early March to prepare for the new season, a number of trial players have been arriving to be evaluated by the coaching team. Meanwhile, Li Shuai has moved on to become a goalkeeper and changed coaches, while starting outside center back Jonic has been confirmed to have left the team. Goalkeeper Shi Xiaotian, who played for Changchun Yatai last season, and defender Li Songyi of Shandong Taishan have basically finalized their joining, and the related transfer matters have been implemented for a long time.
However, for any new recruit to play on behalf of a new team, not only does he or she have to complete the transfer process, but also has to complete registration with a member association. The current epidemic situation in Shanghai is severe, and from the end of March to the beginning of April, many neighborhoods continued to be sealed off, with the vast majority of companies suspending their operations, which resulted in Shenhua being unable to send anyone to the CFA to complete the registration process. Coincidentally, the CFA will be the first window of this season's Super League transfer registration from the original April 15 postponed to April 29, so Shenhua in the completion of Shi Xiaotian and Li Songyi's transfer formalities, and did not immediately for two people for the Football Association registration.
As fate would have it, FIFA recently announced a worldwide ban on Shenhua registering new players. It is reported that Shenhua had already completed the transfer of Li Songyi and Shi Xiaotian before the ban was issued. Whether the two can still be registered in the future will depend on the outcome of the negotiation between the CFA and FIFA. If FIFA does not recognize them, Shenhua's reinforcement and preparation plan for the new season will inevitably be seriously affected.
